Perspective

This year, the period we are in that commemorates Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Day, Yom Hazikaron, Remembrance Day for our fallen soldiers, and Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, should focus on the open miracles we have been witnessing on a daily basis.

The Jewish people have been through a lot since October the Seventh. There has been a great deal of sadness and grief, and there is the trauma of a war that we hope will soon end.

The stress of these events makes it difficult to take a step back and acknowledge the Hand of Hashem protecting His people. We have seen the fall of so many of our enemies in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. These are incredible miracles.

The trauma of the hostages in captivity was very traumatic for our people. But finally there was closure as none were left behind. This was no small task when we were dealing with a cruel, heartless, and viscous people.

The Talmud goes into lengthy discussions about husbands who were lost in battle, where there was a great likelihood that they would never be found. How was the wife of a lost warrior, supposed to go on with her life? The evidence may have been very weak. A similar problem occurred if a woman’s husband went overseas and contact was lost with him.

The Rabbis instituted the “Aguna” leniency. They allowed the woman to avoid being stranded, and permitted her to remarry based on the testimony of even one witness. She needed to investigate and be certain that her husband was no longer alive. If he were to suddenly reappear, even after many years, it created many Halachic problems regarding the legitimacy of children born from a second husband.

This is the time of year that we not only must recognize the miracles, but we should appreciate how we have survived as a people, under the most unbearable situations.

The G-d of Israel loves and protects us. We must rely only on Him, and serve Him with great awe and love.